SEPTEMBER 2026
PRC PATHWAYS
Your monthly guide to Family Support, Community Resources, and Positive Action!
September brings a fresh start and new opportunities to connect, learn, and grow together. In this month’s newsletter, we’re excited to share upcoming events, program updates, community highlights, and helpful resources for families. As we head into the fall season, we look forward to continuing to create opportunities that bring families and our community together. Thank you to our families, volunteers, partners, and supporters for being an important part of the PRC and the work we do!
OUR CORE PILLARS
FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES
The Reader’s Café concluded on Thursday, July 30, and I cannot emphasize enough what a meaningful experience it has been. Spending time with children and families throughout the summer has been one of the highlights of my work. Watching parents fully engage with their children—reading together, playing games, creating crafts, or simply enjoying each other’s company—has been truly heartwarming.
This program offered families a welcoming space to connect, learn, and grow together. While it was sad to see it come to an end, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to be part of it. I hope to participate again next year, and I am already thinking about ways we might expand the program to additional schools so even more families can benefit from this wonderful experience.
Parent Connection – Program Update & Fall Restructure
We are making some adjustments to the Parent Connection program to better meet the needs of families and increase participation. Beginning this fall, we will continue to meet on Wednesday evenings with dinner served from 5:45–6:15 p.m. The parent group will now meet from 6:15–6:50 p.m., and the parent/child activities will take place at the end of the evening from 6:50 to 7:15 p.m.
This new structure allows parents who attend without children to arrive at 6:15 p.m. and participate fully in the discussion portion of the program. We hope this flexibility encourages more families—and more individual parents—to join us. We will also be working on new marketing strategies to reach additional families in the community.
In addition to the evening program, we will be restarting a Tuesday morning Parent Connection Group beginning October 6, from 10:00–10:45 a.m. This will be an adult‑only session covering the same topics as the evening class, offering another option for parents whose schedules make evening attendance difficult.
One ongoing challenge is securing volunteers to support childcare on Wednesday evenings. We have been fortunate to have dedicated student volunteers through Get Connected with United Way, but we would like to add at least one volunteer with childcare experience to help guide and support the youth volunteers. Strengthening this part of the program will help ensure a safe, positive experience for children while parents participate in the group. If you or someone you know would be interested in volunteering once a month from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m., please contact Diane Whalen at 507-438-1270.
Beginning Wednesday, September 30th, we will also host a monthly Family Fun Night. When it falls on a Wednesday evening, it will coincide with Parent Connections. We will still be offering a meal from 5:45 – 6:15 p.m. but after that it will be a theme that the whole family can participate in. September 30th – Fall Crafts, October 28th – Halloween Party, November 18th, Popcorn and Movie Night, wear your PJ’s, bring a pillow and blanket and Saturday, December 19th from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. we will be hosting Breakfast with Santa, there will be pictures with Santa, donuts and cinnamon rolls, different stations of activities and Santa’s workshop, a place for kids to buy their parents a present for $1 and have it gift wrapped.
Registration is required whenever a meal is offered. A registration form will be on our website for all the events. If you are not coming to eat, you can just come at 6:15 p.m. to enjoy the activities.
“I’m a mother of 4 children varying in the ages of 19-year-old boy, 14-year-old girl, and a set of twin girls thats 7. In life we all experiences challenges throughout our years of parenting. Sometimes textbooks or even our own thoughts of parenting may not be helpful due to the differences each child requires at that time..moment..or even just life itself. One thing for certain I was very nervous about being in a parenting class. But I can truly say I really love everything that Parenting class offered and help me to become a better parent. Sometimes we feel as if we have our parenting skills in order. At least that’s what I thought…but we should be forever learning about our children & the best skills that will help our children grow to be successful, emotional intelligent & loving individuals. I learned that for all ages of my children. I was excited in meeting new parents being able to express our concerns with our children without judgements. This class has been one of the best things that happened in my life! I do want to thank Mrs. Diane for being one of the gentlest, loving & inspiring teachers ever. This class was so joyful above amazing, and informative. Thank you all for everything it’s a great environment for learning, spending time meeting other parents, resourceful and very informational. Again, I encourage parents to try this class they definitely will love it just like my children and I.”
SEIBEL CENTER
As the new school year begins, children are returning to the classroom with opportunities to explore new ideas, develop new skills, and expand their knowledge. At The Seibel Center, we believe learning should continue beyond the traditional classroom setting.
We are grateful to the Austin Public Library for generously donating an AWE Learning Station to The Seibel Center. These interactive learning stations provide children with engaging opportunities to strengthen early literacy, mathematics, science, language development, and other foundational skills.
Learning, however, happens in many ways throughout a child’s time at the Center. Even when children are not using the learning station, they continue to develop important skills through meaningful interactions and activities with their parents during reunification visits. Reading together, talking and listening, playing games, and simply spending quality time together all helps children build communication, social-emotional, problem-solving, and relationship skills.
We sincerely appreciate the Austin Public Library for helping us expand the learning opportunities available to the children and families we serve. Whether children are exploring an educational activity on the AWE Learning Station or learning through time spent with their parents, every moment can be an opportunity to learn, grow, and connect.
WELCOME CENTER
This September, the Welcome Center is excited to celebrate Welcoming Week 2026, taking place September 10–19! Welcoming Week brings communities together to celebrate connection, belonging, and the many cultures, experiences, and stories that make our community stronger.
This year’s theme, “Stories We Share: The Courage to Connect,” reflects much of what we strive to do at the Welcome Center every day. Whether we’re helping someone find community resources, navigate benefits, complete important forms, access SNAP, or overcome language barriers through translation and interpretation, our goal is to help people feel supported, connected, and welcomed.
Join Us for an Inviting Table!
As part of Welcoming Week, we invite you to join us for an Inviting Table on Thursday, September 17 from 5:00–7:00 p.m. at the Community Action Building. This community gathering will be an opportunity to come together, connect with neighbors, share conversation, and celebrate what it means to be a welcoming community.
Welcoming Week reminds us that creating a sense of belonging takes all of us. Sometimes, it starts with something as simple as sharing a meal, starting a conversation, or taking the time to learn someone else’s story.
We look forward to celebrating with you and continuing to build a community where everyone feels valued, connected, and welcome.
PREVENTION
September is Recovery Month, and it is a wonderful reminder that recovery is happening every day right here in our community. This month gives us an opportunity to recognize the strength, courage, and resilience of individuals who are working toward recovery and to celebrate the progress they have made along the way.
Recovery is not always an easy journey, and every step forward is worth recognizing. Recovery Month helps bring awareness to the importance of support, connection, and community while reminding individuals and families that they are not alone.
As part of Recovery Month, the Parenting Resource Center will be participating in the 4th Annual Walk for Recovery hosted by Recovery Is Happening on September 19th. We are excited to come together with community members, organizations, and individuals to show our support, raise awareness, and celebrate the many paths to recovery.
Events like the Recovery Walk are an opportunity to remind our community that, hope is possible, and support is available. By coming together, we can help reduce stigma, encourage those who are on their recovery journey, and create a community where people feel supported and empowered to take the next step.
This September, let’s celebrate the people who continue to choose recovery, the families who support them, and the community resources that help make recovery possible.
Executive Director’s Corner
Back-to-school season reminds us that preparing children for success takes more than pencils, notebooks, and a new backpack.
It takes families who feel supported. Parents who have somewhere to turn when they have questions. Safe places for children during difficult family transitions. Neighbors who can access information regardless of the language they speak. People who find connection before isolation becomes crisis—and support when they are rebuilding afterward.
Sometimes that support begins with something as simple as a backpack.
But our work has never really been about the backpack.
It is about what happens when someone walks through our doors and discovers they don’t have to navigate everything alone.
That is the bigger vision behind the Parenting Resource Center today. We are here to empower families and strengthen communities through education, support, prevention, and connection.
Those four words encompass a lot. They mean meeting immediate needs while also asking what comes next. They mean helping families through today’s challenge while building the skills, relationships, and connections that may prevent tomorrow’s crisis.
As another school year begins, we’ll distribute supplies. We’ll help with forms. We’ll teach classes, provide diapers, facilitate supervised parenting time, connect people with resources, support recovery, and welcome families into our building.
The services may look very different from one another.
The mission behind them is the same.
Because when families are stronger, children are stronger. And when children and families thrive, our entire community is stronger.
— Crystal Vandevender
Executive Director
